Founding the Student Council

The Coláiste Iognáid Student Council was founded in October 2006 by a group of sixth years. A meeting was held to discuss the formation and execution of a new Student Council body which would act as a representative structure for students only, through which they can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its students.

The First Founding Meeting of the Student Council met on the 26th of October. Present at the meeting were: Jamie Brown, Donncha Lenihan, David Cleary, Anna Mullarkey, Christine Lynch, Ebhan Loughlan, Paul Colclough and Robert McDonald.

A Second Meeting was held on the 16th of November to discuss the structure of the Student Council, and create the Council Executive.

Hugh Lavelle was appointed Teacher Liaison to the Student Council. Mr. Lavelle will be the link between the Students, Staff and Management of the School.

To contact a member of the Student Council, click here.

Did we have the right to set up a Student Council?

· Section 27 of the Education Act 1998 says that Boards of Management shall encourage and give all reasonable assistance to students in setting up and running of student councils in second level schools.

· The National Children's Strategy says that children and young people will have a voice in matters that affect their lives and be provided with opportunities to participate in decision-making.

Both of these are Government policy

The rules for setting up and running a Student Council

According to the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management of the school is responsible, for drawing up rules for the establishment of a Student Council. These rules must comply with the Department of Education and Science guidelines – Student Councils: A Voice for Students. The Board must give students a copy of the rules if students say they want to set up a Student Council.

After consulting with the Board, the Student Council can draw up a constitution, which is a set of rules about how it will run its meetings. More about constitutions in Setting up a Student Council.

Section 27 of the Education Act, 1998

(1) A board shall establish and maintain procedures for the purposes of informing students in a school of the activities of the school.

(2) The procedures established and maintained under subsection (1) shall facilitate the involvement of the students in the operation of the school, having regard to the age and experience of the students, in association with their parents and teachers.

(3) Students of a post-primary school may establish a student council and, without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), a board of a post-primary school shall encourage the establishment by students of a student council and shall facilitate and give all reasonable assistance to –
(a) students who wish to establish a student council, and
(b) student councils when they have been established.

(4) A student council shall promote the interests of the school and the involvement of students in the affairs of the school, in co-operation with the board, parents and teachers.

(5) The rules for the establishment of a students council shall be drawn up by the board, in accordance with such guidelines as may be issued by the Minister from time to time, and such rules may provide for the election of members and the dissolution of a student council.

(6) A student council, following consultation with the board, may make rules governing its meetings and the business and conduct of its affairs.